Sign control



Mafy 2, 1944. H. P. BURNEY, JR

SIGN CONTROL Filed June-l2, 1940 HENRY P- BURNEY Jr- Q E INVENTOR ofinm (Mm/W A'H'orfle a Patented May 2, 1944 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to a sign control system and particularly to electrically illuminated signs of which illumination is so controlled as to simulate action In the resulting display.

The invention is particularly applicable and it is an object of the invention to control the electric circuits including the illuminating elements of the sign in such a manner as to efiect desired animated illumination.

Another object is to provide a control system of the class described in which there is a predetermined sequence in the operation of the sections of the sign whereby such sections are so coordinated as to produce a unitary efiect.

Another object is to. provide a. system of the class described including control panels for a plurality of sections and means for returning the movable arms on such panels to initial position so that successive animations of the sections are identical.

Still another object is to provide a control system of the class described in which animation may simulate writing or unwriting of symbols together with, or in the absence of, other animated illumination.

A further object is to provide a sign control system which is operated in a plurality of sections each of which is energized from an individual transformer which may b placed in close proximity to the section illuminated thereby.

Another object is to provide a sign control system including control means for each of a plurality of sections of the sign, mechanism being provided for controlling such means in co-ordinated relation to producing the desired effect and thereafter returning such control means to initial position so that the animation may be accurately reproduced.

Still another object is to provide a system of the class described in which any desired sectional sequence of animation may be readily effected.

Still another object is to provide a sign control system in which the sign controlled thereby is unlimited as to size.

The foregoing objects, and other objects, will be more fully understood from the following detailed description.

Fig. 1 is a figure of the drawing which constitutes a diagrammatic view of a sign comprising two sections and illustrating the salient features of the invention.

Fig. 2 is an end view of the contact control shaft.

It will be observed that the sign of the illustrated embodiment comprises gaseous illuminat ing tubes 1 and 2 having end terminals respectively 3, 4 and I3, l4. Tube I has intermediate terminals 5 to II inclusively as representing the various sections to be illuminated, each of such terminals being connected to a terminal on the control panel 35 and referred to by similar primed reference characters, Tube 2 has intermediate terminals E5 to El inclusively as representing the various sections to be illuminated and each of such terminals is connected by a conductor to a terminal on panel 36', such panel terminals being referred to by similar primed reference characters.

It is intended that the tubes l and 2 shall be illuminated in a predetermined manner so that the desired co-ordination of illuminated animation shall produce the desired eilect. Attention is directed to the fact that the tubes l and 2 may comprise a single tube or may represent a plurality of tubes which are operated as a unit or group and respectively comprise a plurality of sections to make up the composite sign.

The tubes i and 2 are shown as energized in th manner disclosed and claimed in Patent 2,150,902, issued March 21, 1939. That is, referring to the tube i for example, the end terminals 3 and 4 are connected by means of conductors and ii to the terminals of the secondary 32 of a transformer 33. The tube I is hence energized whenever the transformer 33 is energized except for those sections which are short circuited by means of the conductor 34 and the rotating control member 35 which has Wiping contact with the terminals 3' and 5' to H inclusive. Tube 2 has its sections 55 through 2| inclusive similarly controlled by means of panel 36 whereon the terminals are similarly identified by prime reference characters I 5 through 2 l inclusive as already indicated and the member 35 controls the circuit.

The movement of the arms 35 and 35 on the control panels 35 and 36' is efiected by means of motors 4i) and. 40 each of which has its armature directly connected to the conductor 43 of a power supply line represented by conductors 43 and M.

A motor 46 is also connected across the power line and drives the rotor 4'! of a control unit. Discs 48, 49, 50 and 51 rotate with the rotor 41 and each carries a conducting segment upon its peripheral surface and all of such conducting segments are electrically connected to the power line 44.

When the brush on the conductor 52 engages the conductor segment on disc 48 the motor 40 is energized through the field 4I whereby the motor is driven in a forward direction and rotates the arm 35 on the panel 36 in the direction indicated by the arrow 31. In a similar manner when the brush on the conductor 53 engages the conductor segment on the disc 49 the motor 49' is energized through the field M and the arm 35' is driven in the direction indicated by the arrow 31'. It seems apparent that the conductor segments on the discs 48 and 49 will be so oriented relative to each other that any desired sequence of the rotation of the arms 35 and 35 in a forward direction may be obtained. If the tubes I and 2 represent successive segments of a writing sign obviously the orientation of the conductor segments on the discs 48 and 49 will be such that the illumination of the tube 2 will be initiated immediately upon the completion of the illumination of the tube I when the contactor on the arm 35 rides upon a wedge shaped stop 38 to lift the arm from engagement with the contactor I I.

Each of the primaries 29 and 29' of the transformers 33 and 33' has one terminal connected directly to the conductor 43. The other terminal of the primary windings is connected to conductor 44 by means of conductor 54 which has sliding contact with the disc 5| having a con ducting segment which maintains a closed circuit at all times when any portion of either of the tubes I or 2 is illuminated.

This disc 59 on the rotor 41 is connected by means of conductor 55 to the fields 42 and 42' and when this circut is closed the motors 40 and 40' arereversed in direction to return the arms 35 and 35' to initial position forrepetition of the animated effect.

The operation of the described embodiment is believed apparent but by way of summary it will be assumed that both arms are in initial position, that is in engagement with the stops 2'! and 2'! respectively. The transformers 33 and 33 are first energized and then the tube l is progressively illuminated as the arm 35 moves in the direction indicated by the arrow 31 and the successive sections of the tube I are unshorted, the arm 35 being driven by the motor 49 through the contact '48. When the illumination of this tube is completed the motor 49 is deenergized since the conductor segment on the disc 43 is of such length only as to move the arm 35 to its terminal position. The circuit through the motor 49' is then closed by the contact 49 and a similar sequence of events takes place in tube 2. This sequence of operations assumes that the animated e'iTects produced by the tubes I and 2 is a continuous effect such as the case when a writing sign is operated. It is to be understood, however, that the sequence utilized will depend upon the effect to be produced by the co-ordinating lighting of the sections of the sign.

When the lighting of tubes I and 2 has been completed the transformers 33 and 33' are deenergized whereupon the tubes I and 2 become dark. The motors 40 and 40' are again energized through the fields 42 and 42' so that the arms 35 and 35' simultaneously rotate in a counterclockwise direction to their initial position which was above assumed. The successive animation of the sign will therefore take place in a manner identical to the preceding cycle of operation. It seems apparent that by means of the construction just described all difiiculties in connection with the proper sequence in operation are eliminated. Furthermore any desired sequence of operations may be readily provided and for this reason the system is extremely flexible.

While a specific construction for carrying out the invention has been described and illustrated it is to be understood that the invention is not confined thereto but that the invention broadly comprehends a sign control system which may be readily altered to produce any desired animated effect.

What is claimed is: I

1. In a sign control system for the animation of sections of an illuminated sign in predetermined sequence comprising a plurality of sections making up a plurality of illuminating elements, a transformer for each of said elements, a control panel for each of the elements including a movable control member, a prime'mover for each of the control members, means to actuate the prime movers whereby sections of the elements are illuminated in predetermined sequence, and means for deenergizing the transformers and returning the control members to initial position when the cycle of animation is complete.

2. In a sign control system for the animation of sections of an illuminated sign in predetermined sequence the combination of a plurality of gaseous illuminating elements, sections forming each element to make up a sign to be animated, each of said elements having end terminals and spaced intermediate section terminals, a transformer for illuminating each of said elements, a control device for each of said elements for supplying energy from the transformer to the sections of the elements in predetermined sequence,

' a prime mover operatively connected to each of said devices,' means for energizing said prime movers in predetermined sequence to produce animated illumination of the sections and elements, means for reversing the prime movers to reverse the control devices, means to deenergize the transformer upon reverse of the control de vices, and means to'stop the devices in initial position.

3. In a sign control system for the animation of sections of an illuminated sign in predetermined sequence the combination of a plurality .of groups of illuminating sections forming elements of a sign to be animated, a transformer for illuminating each of said elements, means in the secondary circuit of each of said transformers for supplying energy to sections of the associated group in predetermined sequence, a prime mover for operating each of said means, a stop for said means at the end of the sequence means for reversing the prime movers to return said first -mentioned means to initial positionwhen the cycle of animation is complete, means to de-ener- 'gize the transformer at the time of reversal, and

a return stop for the means at the initial position. I

4. An animation control for an illuminated sign wherein said sign is made up in groups of sections, a transformer for each group, means to .for said means at the end of the sequence, control means to reverse said prime mover andcircuit closing means of each group as said stop is reached, and a return stop at the initial position of said circuit closing means.

5. An animation control for an illuminated sign wherein said sign is made up in groups of sections, a transformer for each group, means to energize the transformer as the animation starts in each group and to de-energize it when the animation is completed, a prime mover for each group, means operable thereby to close the circuit to each section of a group in sequence, a stop for said means at the end of the sequence; control means to reverse said prime mover and circuit closing means of each group as said stop is reached, a return stop at the initial position of said circuit closing means and additional means to energize the prime mover for the neXt group as the reversal of the prime mover for the preceding group is effected.

6. In a sign control system for the animation of sections of an illuminated sign in predetermined sequence comprising a plurality of illumihating elements, each element comprising a plurality of sections, a transformer for each of said elements, a control member for each of the elements and movable to illuminate the sections, a prime mover for each of the control members, means whereby the prime movers are actuated in predetermined sequence so that said prime movers operate said members and produce animated illumination of the sections, means to limit the initial and final movement of said members, and means for energizing the field coils of each of the prime movers to return the control members to position of initial movement when the cycle of animation is complete.

HENRY P. BURNEY, JR. 

